We have a real problem in this country with violent language, whether it's directed toward President Obama or a female game developer or feminist video game culture critic Anita Sarkeesian.
Anita Sarkeesian's story is a long one, but basically it comes down to the very same issue I and others are having with Rush Limbaugh's handlers: They don't like the things we say so they threaten, and in Sarkeesian's case, those threats have driven her from her home as recently as August.
Threats and vile language haven't stopped Sarkeesian from giving lectures at universities. She's not going to be intimidated by testosterone rants. However, she was forced to cancel a lecture at Utah State University not only because of graphic threats, but because they refused to ban guns from the auditorium.
"Sarkeesian asked if weapons will be permitted at the speaking venue," according to a statement released late Tuesday by USU. "Sarkeesian was informed that, in accordance with the State of Utah law regarding the carrying of firearms, if a person has a valid concealed firearm permit and is carrying a weapon, they are permitted to have it at the venue."
Sarkeesian confirmed, via Tweet: "Forced to cancel my talk at USU after receiving death threats because police wouldn’t take steps to prevent concealed firearms at the event."
A 2004 law prohibits Utah’s universities from enacting policy that "in any way inhibits or restricts the possession or use of firearms."
The threats she received weren't ordinary run-of-the-mill death threats. They were graphic, vile, and definitely should have been taken seriously.
An email to Utah State University threatened "the deadliest school shooting in American history" if the school did not cancel a lecture Wednesday morning by a well-known feminist writer and video game critic.
"Feminists have ruined my life, and I will have my revenge, for my sake and the sake of all others they’ve wronged," read the message from a sender who claimed to be a USU student.
The message threatened to rain gunfire and shrapnel upon a lecture by Sarkeesian, who created a feminist video blog and a video series on misogyny in video games. She was scheduled to speak at 11:30 a.m. at the Taggart Student Center Auditorium.
"A Montreal Massacre style attack will be carried out," warned the message, sent to multiple departments and individuals around campus. "I have at my disposal a semi-automatic rifle, multiple pistols, and a collection of pipe bombs."
After the Isla Vista shootings last year, you'd think perhaps these idiotic destructive gun laws might be revisited. But no. Instead, the ammosexuals win this round.
I fully support Sarkeesian's decision to cancel, but the state of Utah is entirely responsible for being codependent with violent, vile people who get their rocks off threatening women.
Update: Oh, and it gets better. Here's an image of some of the trolls actually wondering if they shouldn't just kill her. WTF.
